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ANNOUNCING THE LAUNCHING OF THE SEARCH FOR THE 2004 CHIEF JUSTICE AWARDEES FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE IN THE JUDICIARY.

WHEREAS, in his Amended Memorandum Order No. 31-2002 the Chief Justice created a Task Force to formulate the guidelines for the annual Chief Justice awards for outstanding employees, more specifically those holding positions below that of Chief of Office in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan, Court of Tax Appeals and all Lower Courts, including Shari'a Courts.

WHEREAS, the Task Force, composed of Court Administrator Presbitero J. Velasco, Jr., as Chairman; Chief Administrative Officer, Eden T. Candelaria, as Vice Chairman; and Chief Attorney Edna E. Diño, Deputy Court Administrator Christopher O. Lock, Asst. Court Administrator Ismael G. Khan, Jr. and Chief Justice's Staff Head Joseph Bryan Hilary P. Davide as Members, submitted the guidelines for the awards which read in full as follows:

I.   OBJECTIVE

To give recognition and award to workers in the Philippine Judiciary as an impetus for efficient, effective and expeditious administration of justice in pursuit of excellence through service rendered with integrity, industry and innovativeness.

II.  ELIGIBILITY FOR AWARD

The Chief Justice Award for Outstanding Service in the Judiciary shall be open to all employees of the Supreme Court and Lower Courts including Shari'a Courts, Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan and Court of Tax Appeals.

III. CATEGORIES

          The awards for excellence will be given to the following:

1.  Outstanding Personnel of the 1^st level courts including Shari'a Circuit Courts;

2.  Outstanding Personnel of the 2^nd level courts including Shari'a District Courts;

3.  Outstanding Supreme Court personnel, (below position of Chief of Office); and

4.  Outstanding employee of the Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan, Court of Tax Appeals  (below Chief of Office).

IV. NOMINATIONS FOR THE AWARD

Nominations may be made by any individual, group or organization by submitting to the Nominations Committee a duly accomplished nomination form. In addition, the Committee may motu proprio include candidates based on the records of the Office of the Court Administrator and the offices of Administrative Services of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan and Court of Tax Appeals:

The following are disqualified from nominating:

a)    A litigant/party, including his spouse, parents and children, who has a pending civil, criminal or administrative case in the court/office of the nominee;

b)      The relatives of prospective nominees up to the 4^th degree of affinity or consanguinity; and

c)      Organizations of which the prospective nominee is an officer.

V. QUALIFICATIONS OF PROSPECTIVE NOMINEES

a)  Nominee must have been appointed to his present position for at least three (3) years;

b)  Nominee must not have been administratively sanctioned for less grave and grave offenses within the 3-year period preceding the nomination;

c)  Nominee must not have been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude;

d)  Previous awardees are disqualified for nomination for at least two (2) years from receipt of the award;

e)  Nominee must have a performance rating of at least very satisfactory for the last two (2) years immediately preceding the nomination;

f)   Must have reported for work regularly and punctually for the last two (2) years unless on approved leave; and

g)  Must have regularly attended the weekly flag ceremony.

VI.   GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR NOMINEES

The nominee shall submit ten (10) copies each of the following:

a)      latest colored photo, size 2 x 2;

b)      copies of citations or recommendations or certification for specific accomplishments;

c)      performance ratings for the last two (2) years;

d)      Personal Data Sheet; and

e)      Written conformity of nominee.

VII.  PERIOD OF AWARD

a)  Frequency - The awards shall be given annually.

b)  Period Covered - From the start of the employment in the Judiciary up to August 31 of the current year.

VIII. PRESENTATION OF AWARDS

a)  Date and Place. – The awards shall be held in December at the Session Hall of the Supreme Court of the Philippines.

b)  Trophy and Certificate of Recognition. – Each awardee shall receive a trophy and a certificate of recognition.

c)  Monetary Award. – Each awardee is entitled to a cash award.

d)  Other benefits.  – The awardee will be given preference in promotion, entitlement to study grants and training courses and other benefits.

IX.   FINANCING THE AWARD

Chief Justice Hilario G. Davide, Jr. has set aside a substantial portion of the monetary award he received as 2002 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee for Government Service as a trust fund to finance the Annual Awards.

X.  The EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE shall supervise the administration and conduct of the Awards.

The Executive Committee shall be composed of the following:

XI.   The NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE shall nominate deserving court employees and accept nominations from any individual, group or organization.

The committee shall consist of the following:

XII.     The SCREENING COMMITTEE shall take charge of the evaluation of nominations and documents and submission of the final list per category.

The Screening Committee shall be composed of the following:

XIII.  SUBMISSION OF NOMINATIONS

a) Date for Submission of Nominations - Nominations for all the categories of the awards must be received by the Nominations Committee on or before September 15. The deadline for submission of all the requirements is on September 30.

XIV.         CRITERIA FOR SELECTION

General Criteria:

1)     Innovative projects or activities implemented to promote effective, efficient and expeditious dispensation of justice;

2)      Exemplary leadership in the judiciary and in the community;

3)      Honesty, diligence, integrity and dedication to work;

4)      Exemplary rapport and effective working relations with co-employees established by the nominee.  This would also include work attitude or overall disposition of the nominee towards work;

5)      Initiative to learn job-related skills; and

6)      Proper decorum towards lawyers, litigants, witnesses and the public in general.

XV. The BOARD OF JUDGES shall be responsible for the selection of Awardees.

The Board of Judges shall be composed of the following:

XVI. PROCEEDINGS ON FINAL SELECTIONS

The deliberations of the Board of Judges on the final selection shall not be made public or otherwise revealed.

XVII. PROTEST

Any selection made by the Board shall be deemed final and irrevocable. No protest against any award shall be considered.

WHEREAS, the Chief Justice had earlier deposited in a special account the sum of Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos (P750,000) he had earmarked from his Ramon Magsaysay Award for the annual awards for excellence for outstanding judicial employees; and with the interest therefrom, it is now most appropriate to start with the search for the 2004 awardees.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Chief Justice hereby formally launches the search for the 2004 most outstanding judicial employees holding positions below that of Chief of Office in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan, Court of Tax Appeals, and lower courts, including Shari'a courts and more specifically the following:

1)  2004 Chief Justice Award for Outstanding Service – First Level Courts and Shari'a Circuit Courts;,

2)  2004 Chief Justice Award for Outstanding Service ­– Second Level Courts and Shari'a District Courts;

3)  2004 Chief Justice Award for Outstanding Service – Court of Tax Appeals;

4)  2004 Chief Justice Award for Outstanding Service – Sandiganbayan;

5)  2004 Chief Justice Award for Outstanding Service – Court of Appeals; and

6)  2004 Chief Justice Award for Outstanding Service – Supreme Court.

Each awardee shall receive a cash prize of Forty Thousand Pesos (P40,000), a trophy and a certificate of recognition.

The Executive Committee, the Nominations Committee, the Screening Committee, and the Board of Judges are requested to meet, formally organize, and perform their functions and duties set forth in the above-mentioned guidelines.

The Office of the Court Administrator and the Public Information Office are requested to disseminate this Memorandum Circular to ensure the success of its desired goal.

This Memorandum Circular shall take effect upon its issuance.

Issued this 13^th day of April 2004 in Baguio City.